Austria.Karl

Author Elias Schneitter masters quite supremely the dramatic art of portraying the overlooked and the apparently petty and trivial. This is particularly true of Schneitter's anthology of short narratives entitled Austria. Karl. The story chosen for InTranslation is all about 'Judge Georgie' who in a very revealing monolog points the accusatory finger at the world, complaining about everything in general and Austria (otherwise referred to in Austria as Karl), foreigners, the government and the snails in his garden in particular. He is certainly not a judge by profession but is a notorious grumbler, who never minces his words and freely gives vent to his many blind prejudices. He always blames others for the unfortunate twists and turns his life has taken, never questioning his own decisions or views. The story of Judge Georgie is one of self-deception and self-justification. It is just one of several internal monologs that make up this anthology that also features Ernst who reflects on his former career on a cruise liner and Walter, the hippy in the military uniform. Elias Schneitter is very much interested in the 'man on the street' and the contradictions that define them. He describes his characters with laconic wit, but always treats them with respect and empathy. Isabelle Esser

Elias Schneitter was born and grew up in Zirl in Tyrol, Austria. After completing his schooling in Stams, he had a variety of jobs, working in souvenirs, as an office clerk, a canoeing teacher in Sturgeon Lake - Minnesota, a project manager for Ho-Ruck, a social program for former inmates, and as an employee for the Austrian social security system. Today, he works as a freelance author. He is co-founder of the international literature festival 'sprachsalz' in Hall, Tyrol and head of the small publishing house 'edition-baes'. His first publications started appearing from 1974, mainly in literary magazines (Fenster, Rampe, wespenest, protokolle, projektil) and as radio plays. His first book was published in 1979 (geflügelte worte). In 2014, he was presented with the Kathy Acker Award for his commitment to promoting international literature, above all, between the USA and the German-speaking world.